Labour could introduce measures to tackle obesity

The Labour government has said that measures could be introduced to tackle Britain's obesity crisis.

Legal limits could be imposed on things such as salt, fat and sugar, the party believes. The announcement comes as the government revealed current measures aren't working.

The Department of Health currently runs a voluntary system with the food industry, known as the 'Responsibility Deal', which it labels "successful"; however the coalition has said that "new thinking" is needed to alleviate the situation, according to bbc.co.uk.

According to spirehealthcare.com, health secretary, Andy Burnham said: "This is a problem we can't carry on ignoring. It is storing up great problems for the NHS in the future."

He continued: "I think parents need more help to make healthier choices for their children... A lot of the time people don't realise just how high in fat, salt, and sugar some of these products are, even when you're trying to make healthier choices."

As well as bad nutrition, however, obesity may also be affected by psychological issues. Those who are suffering may want to try taking a counselling course to determine the reasons behind their over-eating.

It is estimated by the Department of Health that 62.8 per cent of adults aged 16 and over in the UK are overweight or obese, making it a crucial issue for the government.